Chimney Sweep In Annapolis MD – Certified Chimney Cleaning & Inspection

Why You Need Annual Chimney Cleaning

Wood-burning fireplaces are beautiful amenities within a home. For many people throughout the Annapolis, MD, area, nothing can beat a roaring wood fire on a cold winter night. In order to get the most out of your fireplace, it’s imperative that the chimney be inspected and cleaned on an annual basis. Burning wood creates a substance known as creosote, which is a sticky compound that builds up on the inside of the flue with each fire that is burned. Excess creosote can lead to two serious problems.

1. Chimney fire: Creosote is highly flammable and is the cause of most chimney fires in America each year. The longer you neglect having this substance professionally removed during annual chimney service calls, the more likely a fire will start.

A large chimney fire is obvious, and action such as calling 911 can be taken immediately. Other chimney fires aren’t as obvious – in fact, many fires start and go out on their own without people in the home even knowing about them. While these fires likely won’t burn the house down, they will do damage to the flue liner, the chimney’s masonry and other components.

Over time, a lot of small chimney fires can cause serious deterioration to a chimney, making it unsafe to use. As cracks begin to appear in the masonry, water from rain and melting snow can infiltrate the system and lead to faster, more significant damage.

2. Impaired Drafting: As creosote accumulates inside the flue, the path for smoke-drafting is narrowed. Eventually this can cause smoke and the toxins within it to back up into the home.

If you notice a regular smoky smell in your house and/or odd staining on walls and the ceiling adjacent to your fireplace, smoke may not be drafting efficiently through the chimney. If the cause is excess creosote, it’s a smart move to cease using the fireplace until a certified chimney sweep performs a thorough cleaning.

Other Obstructions that Require Chimney Cleaning

Along with creosote, obstructions such as leaves, twigs, small-animal nests and small dead animals can impede the flow of smoke out of your fireplace. Professional chimney sweeps have the tools and experience to completely and safely remove these obstacles and restore your chimney to a peak operational state.

Annual Chimney Inspection for Your Annapolis Home

The only way to ensure that your chimney and fireplace are safe to use is to schedule yearly inspections from technicians certified though the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Chimney inspections cover all components and areas within a fireplace/chimney system and will uncover minor problems that can be fixed before they turn into expensive repair issues. Complete Chimneys of Pasadena, MD, serves Annapolis, MD, and the entirety of Anne Arundel County, MD, and Southern Queen Anne’s County, MD. We provide professional chimney cleaning services, chimney inspection, chimney repair and annual chimney service maintenance. If it’s time your chimney got some expert care, call us at (410) 729-6033.